Big Bend or the Guadalupe Mountains: Which is the Better National Park?
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- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2024
- I wanted to do a little comparison of the two national parks in Texas: Big Bend and the Guadalupe Mountains. Both parks are amazing places, and I talk about different features and aspects of both parks, and which one is better.
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Stumbled across your channel planning our summer hiking trips 😁, never been to either park. Thanks for the information! Great video and channel sir👍🏼!
Hi Minnesota Mountain Matt, you're welcome. If you go to either park you will definitely enjoy them. If you do go in the summer you may actually have less people around you then, which is nice. I've been to both almost every month of the year, and as long as you respect the heat you will be fine. Hopefully they are open by the summer. Thank you!
Well done! Beautiful photography. We haven't been to either park. Gave us something to think about. Thanks.
Hi Doleta,, thank you. Well, I hope you can make it to one of them soon. They are both wonderful places. You're welcome!
Whenever I hike in the Chisos Mountains or McKittrick Canyon, I always say to myself, "I cannot believe this is Texas." I think the season you go makes a big difference. Guadalupe Mountains is breathtaking in early and mid autumn as the foilage changes color. Spring can be terrific in Big Bend as the desert blooms. Guadalupe Mountains is a wilderness area with no roads leading into the interior of the park. That is a big plus in my opinion. Big Bend is much bigger and has more areas to explore with three distinct ecosystems: desert, mountains, and river. But give me 48 hours notice, and I'll go to either park!
Hi John, I think a lot of people in the eastern half of Texas don't realize what they have further west in their state. Those are definitely good times to go to both parks. They're beautiful all year, but those probably are the best. It is nice that the Guadalupe Mountains is mostly wilderness, but it's nice to have more access to some of the remote places in Big Bend with at least the dirt roads. Both parks are awesome places. Thanks for watching!
It's tough making comparisons, but I think you did a good job. I've been to both parks and I have to say, I'm a little envious that you've been there so many times! They are both spectacular!!
Hi Steve, thank you and thanks for watching. Both parks are awesome places. I haven't been back to either since I moved away but I do miss them sometimes.
Loved the comparison video hope to visit them both Thanks for this information
Hi Outdoor Linda, you're welcome, and thanks for watching. Both parks are awesome places that you will really enjoy.
I have been on most trails in Big Bend. I've hiked the Chisos Mountains as well & you can see the vast majority of Mexico from above. I camped there as well, I didn't pitch up a tent or nothing, I just slept in my vehicle. In both Nat Parks the views are spectacular! I went to both places many times for more then 15 years! My experience was awesome! I hope to go back soon. I haven't been to either park in 10 years!
Hi Brett, both parks are great places. There is so much beauty in each of them, as well as solitude. I hope you can make it back soon.
What a great video! Haven't been to Guadalupe yet, but LOVED Big Bend. Sunset along the Rio Grande is mesmerizing.
Hi Calen, thank you! Big Bend is definitely awesome. I actually haven't been down to the river yet, and maybe won't for a long time. I'm sure the views down there will be nice too. Hopefully you can make it to the Guadalupe Mts. soon.
Planning on going back in October . Very nice video, gracias!
Hi Sheryl'Lyn, thank you and thanks for watching. Have fun on your trip. Big Bend is an amazing place.
Hey Zachary, I haven't been on RUclips much lately. So I missed this video. I did my typical once in a while search of videos for Guadalupe Mountains and came across it. Pretty interesting. And I enjoyed a lot of your footage. Especially the coyote shots.
It's been a while since I've been out there too. I miss it. But it may be a while for me. Life has been busy.
Thanks for the video. Helps fill the void.
Hi Cameron, you're welcome. You must be pretty busy, but I hope you can make it out that way soon. I miss west TX too and I hope to make one more trip in the next few months but we'll see. Making the video and talking about it with everyone helps fill the void too.
I've been to both parks and I agree with your assessments however this February, we're headed to Big Bend Ranch State park for a change. Looking forward to the remote 4x4 roads and hiking out there!
Hi Kevin, if the shutdown ends, will you still go to Big Bend? I haven't been to the state park at all. Hopefully it will be at least somewhat comparable to Big Bend, and maybe not too crowded either.
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer Yes we will and did! We spent a week in BBRSP then 4 days in BBNP. You NEED to check out the state park!!! It has quite a different feel from the NP but it has it's similarities as well. It is much , much more remote. We have a Tacoma and were able to get to all of the corners of the park. We only saw a hand full of folks out there and there is an equal amount of history and exploring to be had as well. It's almost a blend of BBNP and GMNP but unique in its own ways. You would love it there, not as many peaks to bag but definitely worth checking out and even better if you have a high clearance vehicle to get waaaay back into the park. Let me know if you have any questions!
@@ghpatriot , I probably won't make it there for awhile if I do. Currently I don't have a 4wd vehicle either. But it would be nice to have even more remoteness. I'm glad you had a good time there and hope you can make it back soon!
You're awesome! Thank you for Putting this information out!
Hi Chelsea, you're welcome, and thank you for watching! Hopefully it helps out!
Excellent show. I've been to both parks twice! I agree with your assessment. You obviously have more experience at these parks than me. I will say that if you don't have at least 3-4 days and maybe limited. on time then Gauadalupe would be my pick. Hit the campground(yeah it sucks but it's not about the camping)then wake up and have your choice of several great day hikes that will inspire and tire you and leave you with some great memories. Then you can be on your way. Big Bend need's more time, you might scratch the surface with a 3 -4 day back country permit and a jeep but...
Hi Ben, thank you. Big Bend has so much to see and do that it would be better with more time there, definitely. Most of my trips have been in one day, since that is all I usually have time for. But I enjoy going so much that I'd rather go than not go, and deal with the fatigue. I hope you can make it back to either of them soon. Thanks for watching!
Great video - went to Big Bend last year and it blew my mind! Been thinking of doing Guadalupe this year, so this is super helpful!
Next time you go back to BBNP, you have to do Santa Elena Canyon! So surreal being between those two massive walls of rock :-)
Hi Haus von Floof, thank you, and yes, it is an amazing place. I hope you can make it to the Guadalupe Mts. this year. I may never get to do Santa Elena Canyon. My goal is to climb every named peak in the park, so that will always be the focus when I'm there. I may not make it back for a long time though. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your video. These two parks are my top 2 favorite places in Texas as well.
Hi Weiping Wang, you're welcome, and thanks for watching. I think a lot of people in Texas consider them their two favorite places in TX also. They are both beautiful places. I hope you can make it to either one of them soon.
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer thanks for your reply. I just hiked the Guadalupe Peak and Emory Peak/South Rim before Christmas. I go there very often.
Great pics. I love West Texas!
Hi Paula, thank you. I really enjoy going to west Tx too. It's so much nicer than here in boring central Tx.
Thanks. Great Productions, photos and videos. Your videos are very clear. I am very curious which camera(s) you use. Your hiking speed seems phenomenal. I am at least 4 or 5 times slower. You likely would not be able to detect that I was moving and I would only catch a peripheral blur of you passing by.
I too like off trail hiking in Big Bend and have been visiting the area for about 27 years. I live 10 hours east of the park. I camp in the primitive campsites and day hike, normally in the areas nearby. Some of my recent projects have involved exploration of Nugent Mountain, Hayes Ridge, Chilicotol, Casa Grande and all around Pine Canyon. My most recent adventure was climbing the mountain known as Pummel Peak which also contains the peak with the same name. Unlike you, I came from Pine Canyon side and did not make it all the way to the peak. I did travel close to and on top of the main ridge of the mountain. Had there been 48 hours in that day, I would have made it. I did see a small mine up there and an old abandoned rock chisel. I took a bunch of photos while up there too. Had to take the rock slide express to make it to the trail by sundown.
I agree with much of your perception of the Big Bend and especially enjoy your video segments in which you are deciding which way to go and pondering the effects of foreshortened perspective in judging the steepness to be expected. Once, the yellow flowers of October showed me the most gradual accent of a mountain. They do not grow well on steeper slopes so I traced them up the mountain with my binoculars and charted my course. It worked well.
Hi MrPianoKnee, you're welcome, and thank you. My camera is a Sony FDR AX100. I'm mostly forced to go faster if I want to accomplish my goals in time, but I'm able to enjoy the views. That's good that you go off trail there. It is far more rewarding and beautiful. Wow, you live far away. I wouldn't have been able to do most of my trips if I were 10 hours away. At least I am only 7, and I can make it to the north entrance of the park usually in 6:20. Too bad you didn't make it to the summit of Pummel Peak, but that's neat about the mine. There are so many potential places to go there that it is hard to decide what to do sometimes. The more I've gotten done there, the harder it is to decide what to do next. That's neat about following the path the flowers made. Well, I hope you can make it back out there soon. I miss it.
Over the past 22 years I’ve made 4 trips to Big Bend N.P. and 1 trip to the Guadalupe Mountains N.P. and I agree with all of the assessments in this video.
However, it should be added that if you are at the Guadalupe Mountains it is just a very short drive to expand your adventuring to Carlsbad Caverns N.P. in southeastern New Mexico which I also visited once and highly recommend. 😊
Hi Marian, they are both great places for sure. thanks for watching.
I love them both. I've hiked most of the trails at Guadalupe, only a loop to the north rim in Big Bend. But my wife and I did go to Big Bend in 1986 for Haley's Comet. The park service held a star party at Dugout Wells. It was amazing.
Hi Steve, yes, both parks are amazing places. I see that BB is closed now, and maybe GM too. I hope to be back to both someday, but not for awhile. That is neat that you went to BB to see Haley's Comet. I actually saw it at Joshua Tree National Park (which was then still a national monument.) We lived in Twentynine Palms and made the short drive up to view it. The park was packed with people from the LA area, but I remember getting a good look at the comet. Was it crowded at BB when you went?
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer You know the short loop road around Dugout Well, it was full or cars. Not too bad thouigh, we had to wait 15 minutes or so to look at it through the telescope the park service had set up. We lived in the Dallas area then and still do now. I'm watching a lot of your videos this afternoon. I'm shocked at the state of some of the trails Guadalupe. The trail between Bush Mountain and Blue Ridge used to be well defined with no overgrowth at all. Even the trail down Bush into West Dog Canyon was better than what you experienced. Probably due to a lack of funding. Really enjoying bingeing your videos. Thanks for them.
I never drove into that loop but I just looked it up on the map to see where it is. I'm sure BB got much less visitation in the mid 80's than today. Thanks for checking out more of the videos! I've heard that the trail after Bush Mt. is even worse than when I was on it. Yeah, they probably just don't have enough to maintain it. If they'd put out a call for volunteers I'm sure people would be glad to help out though. I miss both parks but I'm glad to live so close to so many mountains now. I think too many people in Texas don't know what a special place BB is (and the GM), since it's far from the main population centers. But that's better for those that do know and don't want extreme crowds. You're welcome, and thanks again for watching!
Thanks! This video is just what I needed because I’m taking a business trip to El Paso and am trying to decide which park to visit over the weekend!
Hi GB, you're welcome, and thanks for watching. I would just go to the Guadalupe Mts. unless you have a lot of extra time. They are only about an 1 1/2 hours from El Paso, versus Big Bend which is about 5 hours.
I want to spend two nights backpacking. Can you suggest a trail or circuit hike in Guadalupe?
@@Maryland_Kulak I would go up to the Bowl via either the Bear Canyon trail or the Tejas trail and camp at one of the campsites up there. There is either the Tejas campsite or the Pine Top campsite. You could then do a loop around the Bush Mountain/BlueRidge trail and return to one or the other campsites for the second night. I have heard more recently that the Bush Mountain trail has gotten more overgrown. Or, go up Tejas and camp at Pine Top, then do the Tejas to Juniper Trail, then to the Bowl trail and back to Tejas or Pine Top campsites. See also Ultralight Outdoors on youtube. He does a lot of backpacking there and might give you a better suggestion.
Nice video! Where exactly in Big Bend (I'm assuming) did you shoot the next to the last "scene" at the end of the video, with all the rocks, yuccas, and the distant mountains? That almost reminded me of Joshua Tree National Park, but without the Joshua Trees...
Hi Brian, thank you and thanks for watching. The second to last scene was from Big Bend, and it was from the top of Dagger Mountain. That area has a pretty high concentration of dagger yuccas. If I remember correctly, the mountain is about 7-9 miles south of the north entrance of the park, and is east of the main road. I haven't been to Joshua Tree in about 34 years, but I think that landscape there is similar too.
Great analysis, totally agree with every point you made.
Hi Nash, thank you, and we must think alike! Both parks are awesome, but I do think Big Bend is better. I hope to make it back one more time next week. Thanks for watching!
I don't try to compare them. I'll visit both places in a single trip! I think anyone who loves those places will also love the MC Donald observatory & the Marfa lights viewing area. In west Texas there is a lot to see & I've been to most of these places.
Hi Brett, I've visited both on a single trip as well. There is a lot to see in west Texas. It is a beautiful region, and it is nice that it is isolated and quiet.
I was aware of Big Bend and the Guadalupe Mtns but I have never seen them. It's nice to see what TX has to offer. Improve my view. Good video.
Hi Michael, both parks are great places to visit, and they are my favorite places in Texas. I hope you get a chance to see them in person someday. Thank you and thanks for watching!
Awesome review
Hi BMW, thank you, and thanks for watching it!
Have hiked the Guadelupes a couple of times (and camped up near the peak this year). Kicks my butt and trashes my feet every time but I love it all the same.
Gotta make my way out to Big Bend one of these days!
Hi V-Pony, the Guadalupes are definitely nice. But maybe you will like Big Bend better too. It is an awesome place, and there is much more there than the Guads, especially if you are into summiting peaks. Thanks for watching!
@joe blanco I didn't factor in the height of peaks, which is something to consider. I just factored in that the peaks at Big Bend are more challenging and more fun. Something like Cerro Castellan - even though it is only 3000 ft. - doesn't have anything comparable at the Guads. Neither does the Elephant Tusk, which I haven't done. Or Pummel Peak, which was a 3000 ft. off trail elevation gain, combined with walking through a natural arch, combined with a 3rd class climb up the summit block. There are so many more peaks there, and more that require using your hands to get to the summit, which is something that I like.
I only wanted to compare the National Parks in the video, so I didn't factor in the surrounding lands. I guess someone could do a regional comparison video and factor in all that.
You're totally right about McKittrick Canyon. I wish also wish they had a campground there for camping. I think it is just a budgeting thing and they can't afford to monitor the place with staff.
herodotus7, yeah I've wondered if it is a budgeting issue. Still, you'd think that for the "most beautiful place in Texas" they would make more of an effort to staff it better and have better access to it. The hours they have it open are pretty bad though, and if you're hiking and something happens - say you sprain an ankle - and you take a long time to get back, you risk getting stuck there. Yes, a campground would be nice there, especially since Pine Springs fills up during busy times.
Hey Zachary, thanks for posting this and all your videos. I love watching them all and Cameron's as well. Unfortunately, I'm about as far from both parks and still in Texas as I can be, so I can't go as often as I'd like. Both parks are awesome, and sometimes I'm in the mood for one, and other times I'm in the mood for the other. However, personally, I always end up going back to Guadalupe. Something about how less people know about it and the loneliness of the northern part of the park just really sucks me in. Plus, just as you described, the mountains at Guadalupe just feel so much larger, and the canyons more open. Not to knock on Big Bend, though. It is kind of sad that the last couple of times I've gone to Guadalupe there seems to be more activity going on in the East. Orla used to be a ghost town and now there's so much going on there, so it doesn't feel as remote going out to the park as it used to feel.
Hi NeoMaximuz, you're welcome, and thanks for watching! Both parks are awesome, but just in terms of being able to do some climbing to summit peaks, I have to give the edge to Big Bend. But yes, I think you can get more solitude at the GM, especially the north end like you said. I've been through Orla a few times, and the last time it did seem to be pretty busy. From someone who loves going to both parks, I feel for you living so far away. Seven hours for me is a long time, but it sounds like you're a lot further. I hope to make one more trip to one of the parks before I move to AZ at the end of May. But depending on how busy I am it may not happen. If I do though, I hope to talk more in the video about how the Guadalupe Mts. and Big Bend have re-opened my eyes to the west, and helped me see that's were I want to be. It's been awesome exploring both places, and I'm so glad I did all my trips, even though they were tiring. I think too many people on this side of Texas don't really know what's out there in west Texas, and how beautiful it is. I hope you can make it out there soon, maybe for a long trip. Thanks again!
Don't get me wrong, BB is awesome! Plus there is so much you can't do in Guadalupe. For example if you want to do more off-roading, there's only the one road, while BB has so many more options.
I'm all the way in south Texas, on the border with Mexico and right next to SPI. I've never been a big beach person, though, more of a mountain person, so it's kind of a bummer that mountains are so far away. BB is about 9 hours and GUMO 11, or almost 13 if I'm doing Dog Canyon. I didn't get to go out to either one last year, but hopefully this year I can make it out at least once! I'm leaning towards BB this time since the last time I went was GUMO; I had an awesome trip in Dec of 2016 doing a loop from Dog Canyon, to Marcus, to Bush Mountain, and then back to Dog canyon via Tejas Trail. Ranger said only about six people had gone out that way that year. I'd definitely recommend that trail if you're looking for some solitary adventure, though a GPS would be helpful since there were some parts where the trail disappeared. There were even some mountain lions at night, but we managed to scare them away. @@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer
I know what you mean, it is still sometimes hard to pick one over the other. Wow, you are far away. I went down to SPI last September with my family. It was a good family time, but I would go to the mountains 100 out of 100 times instead of the beach. Yeah, I hope you can make it out this year. Five months has already been too long for me. I know exactly what I am going to do at the Guadalupe Mts. if I go there, and have several ideas for Big Bend if I end up heading there. We'll see. We're making a trip to AZ in April to look for a house, but I will try to get a hike or two in on that trip, maybe more. Did you guys actually see the mountain lions at night, or just hear them? That would be scary if you were alone, and probably still so with other people with you. I've only seen one mountain lion, but it was back in Pennsylvania when I was on a bike trip with my dad.
I feel exactly the same way. People always ask me if I go to the beach all the time since I'm so close, but I really don't. It's ok once in a while, but I'm much more into hiking and exploring, not sitting out in the sun.
At least in Arizona you still have other parks to discover, and you'll be a little closer to parks like Death Valley which is on my wish list to visit someday!
So this trip I took was with two other friends of mine. It's December 29, 2016, and we get to the site where we'll be spending the night (Bush Mountain site) at about 5:45 pm, so we barely have enough light to set up camp and by the time we're cooking dinner, it's already dark. I'm sitting there enjoying my carne guisada and beans when I look to my left and I see about four pairs of eyes looking at us from about 20 feet away. At first I thought they were deer, but then I call my friend over and after we shine our lights and see them better, we realize they are mountain lions. I think our dinner smelled too good and attracted them. So we made some noise and jumped around a bit and they ran away. After putting our food up on a tree, we went to bed and didn't hear from them anymore. @@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer
That's pretty neat with the mountain lions. It would be a lot scarier if you were by yourself. Yes, they were probably attracted by the smell of the food, but at least they left you alone after that. I don't think they would go after anyone with lights, but you never know. I've often wondered when I'm hiking in the dark what is actually around me, and there's probably a good chance that mountain lions are at least somewhat near. That' awesome that you got to see them though.
Great video! driving out west in my converted van will hit each park.
Hi Nomadic Veteran, thank you! I hope you have a great trip, and hopefully are able to have a long stay at each park.
Thanks so much for the video. What time of the year did you go to Big Bend?
Hi Melba, you're welcome, and thank you for watching. I went during all different seasons. Maybe a little more often during the cooler weather, but I've been there in June and August.
Interesting type of video to compare the two national parks.
Hi Martin, I'm not sure how I came up with the idea, but it happened when I was missing both places a lot. Thanks for watching!
That was a great comparison of the two parks Zachary. I love GUMO but I totally agree that Big Bend Is a better experience. The amount of lights and stacks burning off fuel in the desert floor below Guadalupe Peak has really risen over the years and that's such a shame for the pure aesthetics of being there at night. I have to say I agree with you on your thoughts. Great video !
Hi Tony, thank you. The Guadalupe Mts. are a special place. But yes, I think Big Bend is even more special. I never thought I could think about a place as much as I think about Big Bend. The second time I did Guadalupe Peak, I made it up for the sunset and did about 2/3 of the trip down in the remaining light. I met a guy from San Angelo on the way down and we hiked the rest of the descent together since he had no flashlight. I remember the lights then (it was 2016) and I'm sure they've only increased. At least you don't really notice any of that in the daytime. Big Bend is big and isolated enough that hopefully there won't be any light encroachment there. Thanks for watching!
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer I don't think there'll be any light encroachment in Big Bend for the forseeable future! The bedrock in the Big Bend region doesn't support oil exploration or fracking for oil due to it being volcanic rock rather than limestone! The Permian Basin = limestone rock while Big Bend region = volcanic rock! And yes there's limestone in the Del CArmen (Deadhorse) Mountains and Santa Elena/Mesa De Anguilla, but those limestones don't have any oil in them at all, plus they're surrounded by lava rocks, are older than the lava rocks, meaning when the volcanos blew the lavas literally surrounded the limestone uplifts really deep! So in other words, the Big Bend region isn't suited for oil fracking or exploration like it is in the Limestone Permian Basin! The furthest south the oil exploration will go is the Apache feilds northeast of the Davis Mountains south of I-10!
@@ralphjames1211 thanks for the information about that. At least Big Bend should keep it's night skies for awhile. The good thing at the Guadalupe Mts is that you can't really notice any of the drilling in the daytime.
Really enjoyed it! One thing to mentioned, Big Bend peaks have much higher prominence than any of the peaks at the Guadalupe Mountains.
Hi Brady, thank you and thanks for watching. I think Guadalupe Peak might have over 3000 ft. of prominence, but Emory has over 4000, and Sue Peaks and Rosillos Peak both are over 2000 ft. Still, Big Bend has much better mountains and peaks overall than the Guadalupes, especially when you factor in neat climbs like Cerrro Castellan and the Elephant Tusk, which I want to do some day.
I think this is a good example of where prominence can be misleading. The sheer drop down to the desert floor is larger than the steepest side of Emory. Another example would be El Capitan, which only rises like 300ft from the saddle to Guadalupe Peak but has incredible exposure to the desert floor below.
There is this neat metric someone made called “Jut”, which tries to put a value to the visual impressiveness of the rise of a mountain over its surroundings. Guadalupe Peak has twice the “Jut” (1800ft vs 900ft) of Emory Peak. You can see a map and more info at a site called PeakJut.
Just wanted to share some cool prominence adjacent stuff I had learned. Thanks for the informative video!
ive been to big bend 2 times i love it, santa elana canyon is my favorite spot in tx
Hi lostinpark, it is definitely a beautiful place. I've only seen Santa Elena Canyon from a distance, but it looks pretty neat.
Back in the 80s I recall going to the back side of Guadalupe, which you have to drive a long distance through New Mexico. Talk about being isolated.
Hi Douglas, I've been to Dog Canyon a couple times. You're right, it is very isolated. But it is very beautiful and peaceful there too. Thanks for watching.
Quick question, have you been to McKittrick Canyon ?
Hi Cake Pie, yes I've been there. It is beautiful, but since I like to start early it would be nice if they kept it open all the time, or at least opened it earlier.
Zachary Teich saw you talked about it later in the video . I was wondering if you can camp inside McKittrick Canyon .
@@cakepie3558 the only place to camp is at the McKittrick Ridge campsite, which is about 6 miles in and 2000 feet up. You have to get a permit at the main visitors center to camp there.
I’m wanting to visit Big bend soon. Which high peak is the easiest to climb?
Hi My Kung Fu1, the easiest high peak to climb is Emory Peak (highest in the park), since there is a trail to the top, and just a little bit of climbing at the end. None of the other peaks have trails to the summits, except Casa Grande. It is tougher than Emory Peak though. I hope you have a good trip when you go!
Zachary Teich Thank you for your quick response.
You're welcome!
Hey @@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer , are you allowed to camp on any of the peaks?
@@swashington942 , I would think you can but I'm not sure. You can zone camp pretty much anywhere, but I don't know if they keep any of the summits off limits or not. If you look up the rules for zone camping it might say so. If it doesn't say specifically that you can't camp on summits then you should be ok. The only thing I remember from the rules is that you have to be out of sight of any roads.
Enjoyed your video-I actually don't understand why the Guadalupe Mountains are a national park. I live in Arizona, and there are many mountain ranges that are just as nice if not nicer much closer to home. Big Bend is much nicer, but comparing that to the national parks in Southern Utah (specifically Canyonlands) is not much of a contest. The big factor for BBNP is the isolation, but The Maze district of Canyonlands is better than Big Bend in every way, though it is much harder to reach.
A better comparison, I think, would be Canyonlands and Big Bend, they share similar elements. Just my opinion
Hi Andrew, thanks for watching. These are the two national parks in Texas, so that is why I compared them. I'm into summiting mountains, and probably won't be visiting Canyonlands anytime soon, if ever. My family and I will eventually visit Zion sometime after we move to Arizona, but otherwise any trips I make eventually to Utah will be to summit the ultraprominent peaks there. There are a lot of nice mountain ranges in Arizona, definitely.
I would also say that if you combine the experience of GMNP and the Carlsbad Cavern you can see 2x the amount of stuff at Guadalupe.
Yes, there is definitely more if you add Carlsbad Caverns. I've never been there before, so I couldn't really include it in the video anyway, but a lot of people have mentioned that.
This is a debate I have heard hikers in Texas discuss. I've been to Guadalupe Mountains twice and Big Bend once. I'm amazed you have gone as much as you have. I like Guadalupe Mountains more. I think it's an underappreciated place. I can't imagine doing off-trail hiking. Is that even allowed, or even safe?
Hi Mark, I didn't know people debated it, but I guess it would be a natural thing to do with the two parks. Off trail hiking is better than on trail hiking, but it is more dangerous. If you want to climb as many different mountains as you can, then you have no alternative but to hike off the trail. I really enjoy going off trail. Thanks for watching.
I love them both.I guess the scale of Big Bend is more grand.But I love both of them.
Hi Patrick, yes I do too. To me, Big Bend is more beautiful, and with more peaks that require climbing to summit, it will always be better to me. But the Guadalupe Mts. are awesome too. Thanks for watching!
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer it is one of my favorite places on Earth.
It is for me too.
I like both, but Big Bend is just such a great park. I love Big Bend so much.
Hi Luke, I agree with you. Both are great places, but I like Big Bend more.
Surely there wont be an insane wall built through this magnificent national park!!!
Hi Alan, there probably won't be. I can't imagine anyone would spoil the scenery with a wall down there. They could simply take the border patrol agents from the checkpoint 80 miles away and actually have them patrol the border. Thanks for watching!
There were never any plans to build a wall here or at other border parks or remote wilderness border areas.
Have you been to the airplane crash site off bush mountain?
Hi Juan, you're the second person to ask me that in the last few days, but no, I have never been to it. Are you planning on going to see it?
Zachary Teich not yet. But I do want to figure out where exactly I’ll have to go off the trail before I plan anything. I have el cap still up next for me before anything.
Here's a video I found about the plane crash: ruclips.net/video/JBLyL-6iVCc/видео.html Don't watch it if you want to be surprised by what the crash site looks like. El Capitan is fun, even if you can't see where you're going. I wish it would've cleared up for me, but you should get awesome views from there.
Zachary Teich yeah I’ve seen it before, and have following a thread pertaining to airplane wrecks around the US. For sure that’s my next one. I have a newborn and my wife already told me that I wouldn’t be going anywhere for the first year. but if I wan weasel my way out there for sure I’ll do it in August as my birthday gift to myself.
If you aren't that far away just make it a day trip. I've done most of my trips since my son was born in one day. I figure leaving at midnight is 7 hours of driving without them missing me anyway since they are sleeping. Then do the hike and drive 7 hours back, and I am usually back by 9 or so. My wife's sister will help out. But I've only made one trip since my daughter has been born, but we are trying to save money too. But hopefully you will be ok with going, especially if your wife can get some help.
Notable mention is Guadalupe mtns proximity to Carlsbad Caverns NP.
Hi Papa Bear, a lot of people have mentioned that. I just didn't even think about it, probably because I've never been there. Thanks for watching!
There more to see in Big Bend but both have breathtaking views.
Hi Jimmy, I definitely agree with you. Thank you for watching!
Fun video! Between Big Bend and Guadalupe, I will always chose Big Bend. The mountains and backcountry camping in Guadalupe are fun, but if I want mountains I will choose Aldo Leopold or White Mountain Wilderness, both nearby in New Mexico. Big Bend is huge, diverse and unique. It is a long drive from anywhere, but that keeps the crowds away! Night skies are great in both but for a truly unique experience, try camping on White Sands Monument..!!
Hi Joseph, thank you. I like Big Bend more, but not much more. Both are beautiful places, and the closest places to me (for a little longer anyway) for mountains and climbing. I haven't been to White Sands at all, just driven by, but I'm sure it's nice. I may make one more trip to either Big Bend or the Guadalupes in May, but maybe not.
Two great National Parks!
Hi Bruce, yes, they are two great national parks. I feel that far too many people in Texas don't know what special places they have in their state. But that may be good for the people that do know. Thanks for watching!
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer I "discovered" Big Bend and Guadalupe when I was geology undergraduate in 1970s. Our first three weeks of summer field camp were in the Big Bend Park and in areas south of Solitario. We were in the Guadalupe Mountains area (including Carlsbad, NM) another week for more field exercises,and then another two weeks in northern New Mexico and Arizona. Over the years, I have spent a LOT of time in the Big Bend ... far more than most Texans. The field area for my PhD research was nor far from Big Bend ... in the very mountainous area of southern Hudspeth County. Brewster, Presidio, Jeff Davis, Hudspeth, and Culberson counties are my favorite counties of Texas.
That's great that you have been going to the parks for so long. I was amazed at how many people I talked to in the Austin area that had never been to BB or had only gone one time. I couldn't resist going, even if it meant struggling through the drive out there on 3 hours of sleep. It was worth every second of those seven hours to get there. You got to see the parks when there were probably far fewer people, and that is neat. Even though they've become more popular, there is still a lot of solitude to be found there. I hope to get back to BB and GM in the future, but maybe not for several years. I miss them definitely, but I'm glad to have mountains and desert in my backyard now here in AZ. I agree with you that those are the best counties in Texas.
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer You definitely have a LOT of desert in your backyard in Arizona ... one of my favorite states. My wife and I hiked the Grand Canyon a few times ... a lot time ago. I would do that again .. if my knees weren't in BAD shape. I especially like Flagstaff ... a potential retirement destination. If you haven't been there already, check out the Barringer Meteor Crater ... east of Flagstaff.
Yes, there is a lot here, but it's good that some variety - like Flagstaff - isn't too far away. It's a nice area, and so is the Grand Canyon. I've seen the canyon as a kid, as well as the meteor crater. Even if you can't hike down, the views from the top are still awesome. I'm going to try to get my family up there within the next year.
Enjoyed your video... it was not a big deal to us to get through the border patrol check point , took one min
Hi Richardson, thank you. I have a lot of reasons for saying what I said, and the wasted time there, even if it's only a minute or two, is one of them.
A map would have been nice, entrance fees, distance from major city, number of visitors per year, busiest months, etc.
Hi Benson, There are plenty of maps online. Peakery.com has some nice ones. After the first few visits I just bought the yearly national park pass which saved a lot. I think Big Bend is $30 and at the Guadalupe Mts. you just pay to hike and put the tab on your dashboard which may be $7 to $10. The closest cities are El Paso and
San Antonio. I know they are both relatively low in terms of visitors and they are least busy in the summer. I was usually successful at avoiding crowds, which is what I wanted. I only did this video because no one else had. If someone else had then I wouldn't have. Anyone who's been to both parks and has some footage could've done a much better job at this video, but thanks for watching anyway.
I love Big Ben National Park. The Real Grand River.
Hi Sally, yes, Big Bend is an awesome place. I have yet to go down to the river though!
Big bend seems more exotic to me . but the drive is way longer out to big bend
Hi Cake Pie, I think so too. I think overall it is better. I have a about a 7 hour drive to Big Bend and 7.5 to the Guadalupe Mts., so both are pretty long.
Enjoyed the vid. I love both parks dearly, as I've lived in between them for the past 2 years (Fort Davis). For me, Big Bend simply has so many more dimensions to experience than the Guads. Desert, river and mountain. And a border crossing into the quaint Mexican village of Boquillas. And the hot springs. And when I add Big Bend Ranch State Park to the broader experience of Big Bend, it puts it way over the top (remote solitude, abundance of backcountry springs, and abundance of off-trail routes make for endless adventures). But the Rio by itself is a whole other world.
I agree--McKittrick Canyon needs a better access plan (perhaps the new supt could consider that if it's put on his radar). I can't help but wonder if Dog Canyon's resources could be relocated to where they'd be much more valued at McKittrick. And yes the border patrol checkpoints are a major drag coming out of Big Bend. They've soured my experience more than once, but I'm starting to get used to it.
I can't quite decide which has the better view: the South Rim or Guadalupe Peak. Both are without a doubt incredible, but the view looking down on the backside of El Capitan might put Guad Peak on top.
As a trail runner, I'd have to say Big Bend's trails have the edge. The grades are generally more gentle and trails well-established. Guadalupe's trails can be quite steep and some can begin to disappear the further you get from the parking lot. However the El Capitan trail is to date one of my favorite runs I've done.
And as a cyclist, Big Bend wins by an easy margin. The highway passing by GUMO is incredibly scenic but dangerous. The drivers in that area are terrible. Speeding, tailgating, 18-wheelers crawling up steep sections... Just driving it in my car is bad enough.
Looking forward to exploring more of your vids.
Hi Tyler, thank you and thanks for watching. You live in a nice town there. I've been through Fort Davis a few times and it would be great place to live. Yes I think Big Bend has more. I've never even been down to the river yet. The closest I've been was Cerro Castellan. But overall Big Bend has so much more and a lot of variety of things to do and see.
I just think that the "most beautiful place in Texas" should have better access. At least they could open the gate earlier so people can get an earlier start.
I consider the border patrol checkpoint to be an illegal search, not a search for illegals, and a waste of resources that should be on the border and actually patrolling the border. It's too bad it has to dampen the good feeling we have leaving Big Bend.
Yes, I think trail running and biking would be better at Big Bend, especially the biking. I've never done the El Capitan trail but it would be neat to walk underneath there and check out the cliffs.
It's nice that you don't have too long to go to get to either park. Thanks again for watching and commenting!
I dunno which is better, but both are obviously the best part of Texas.
BK Bland, some people think Big Bend, others the Guadalupe Mts., and I agree - both are the best part of Texas. I miss both places. Thanks for watching!
I hiked and camped Guadalupe and endured violent thunder storms every night !
Hi Lee, hopefully you still had a good time other than that. The last time I hiked Guadalupe Peak, I talked to some guys who said the same thing - they camped in a strong thunderstorm the night before. Thanks for watching!
Big bend has a hot springs ....
Our National Adventure, I haven't been to it but I have heard about. It's something else to consider in the comparison too. Thanks for watching.
Great video. Try cutting hair too.
Hi Petra, thank you. I just cut my hair. I was overdue.
I find the title of this video a bit ridiculous how can you compare two national treasures haha
Hi Ryan, you're right, it's ridiculous to compare things. No one ever does that when they're deciding what to buy, or where to go, or what to eat. What was I thinking?
Why not more irritating music?
Hi Bella, because my voice is irritating enough.
I would love to go to bigbend more but I hate the borderpatrol. I do not want to deal with them after a long weekend of hiking. The American citizens have a 4th Amendment right and I refuse to surrender my rights to go hiking. So I stay in VH and just hike GMNP.
Hi F1sherman52, you're exactly right! And you're the first person since I published this video to bring up the 4th amendment, which is clearly violated by the border patrol checkpoints. I don't blame you for not wanting to go to Big Bend. Having your rights violated on the way home is by far the worst aspect of going to Big Bend, and I couldn't stand it either. I hope that someday we can go to Big Bend and be able to drive home without having the experience of the park soured by another illegal action from our "government." Thanks for watching, and thanks for commenting about that!
no comparison, GUMO is far superior
Hi Joseph, can you let me know your reasons why the Guadalupe Mountains are better? I'm curious. Thanks!
I interned and lived there for a year in the 90's. Spent a lot of time at both parks, I just prefer the backcountry and wild areas of GUMO. The reason the close Mc canyon at nights is they have closed canyons that visitors cannot access do to wildlife concerns etc. Having been able to access them, its just my favorite place on earth. Love your vids
@@josephjoseph8326 , thank you. That would be neat to live there. In terms of just being able to do some actual climbing to summit peaks, I would have to say Big Bend is better. This is what I am primarily interested in, so Big Bend will always be better to me. I think the parks need to trust people a little more. Very few people would wander into those canyons at night, and either way, people can do it in the daytime if they want to. When my brother and I hiked Shumard peak, we came down one of the canyons and out at Devil's Hall. We saw the sign saying the canyon was closed, but we were ok since it wasn't the summer. However, if we had done it in the summer, we would have technically been breaking the rules without any idea we were doing so. Most people will respect the sign, and most people won't even be venturing into the canyons anyway. They need to leave McKittrick canyon open all the time. It would save a lot of people time and trouble, especially those that just want to get an early start. Or at least getting there at 6 am and unlocking the gate would be better.
@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer In addition to the restricted canyons and wildlife concerns Joseph mentioned, there is also a natural earthen arch inside the restricted area and likely an archaeological site of interest further up the restricted canyon. (See Legends and Lore of the Guadalupe Mountains.) I've not visited it, but some online research shows me I could fairly easily visit the arch if I wanted to risk arrest and a hefty fine. There are also the Pratt Cabin and the Hunter Lodge that could too easily be vandalized or broken into on cold and/or wet winter nights. And a concern you might have not considered, the roadway into the McKittrick parking area crosses several miles of private land, and the restricted road to the Ship On The Desert would also be a lot a lot more likely trespass target if there were 24 hour access.
I'm in full agreement though that there is a real desire to get on the trails earlier, especially the Permian Reef Trail, which is in direct 100 ish degree sun in the summer, especially since there is adequate light for hiking about 2 full hours before the gates are opened, and 2.5 hours before one could get to the lot and get on McKittrick trails.
Hi dadoleyna, yes there is a lot to consider. I think most people are going to respect the signs and the buildings, especially those that are serious hikers. The gate doesn't stop people from carving their names in the trees, and probably doing other things too. I know I talked about the historical aspect of the parks in the video, since I'm sure people are interested in it, but I'm there for the scenery myself. I'll stop at a building if I have some time to kill, or if it's right there, but I'd really just like these old structures to be torn down and the area be wilderness as much as possible. The last time I was at the Homer Wilson ranch house at Big Bend, they were doing some "remodeling" on it, which costs money and time. That money and time could be used somewhere else, or just saved. Anyway, I may never end up back in McKittrick canyon again. I may be back at the Guadalupe Mts. one more time before I move, but we'll see. It really is an awesome place. Thanks for the information, and for watching!
Carlsbad cavern is much better then any of these
Hi Al, if you like caves better than the mountains then it definitely would be.